Get the Lineup for 2017

Our Artistic Direction Committee has been hard at work selecting the best independent music for this year’s festival! While they aren’t quite done yet, you know it’s going to be another fantastic music lineup just by looking at who they’ve already booked!

The Weber Brothers: Rock

There are bands for which rock and roll is a lifestyle, and then there are bands for which it is life.

To many, The Weber Brothers are the baddest band in the land.To many others, their story sits like an ancient volume in an old bookstore, dust covered, tucked away behind hundreds of newer, shinier books. Untouched. Waiting to be discovered. Regardless of what side you’re on, there’s an undeniable truth. In the rough and tumble world of rock and roll, The Weber Brothers have been around the block.

Little Miss Higgins and the Winnipeg Five: Roots Country

Little Miss Higgins is well known for her undeniably inflammatory mix of her blues and country music repertoire. Joined by a very talented quintet of musicians called the Winnipeg Five – Jimmie James McKee on trumpet, Eric Lemoine on banjo and pedal steel, Blake Thomson on guitar, Patrick Alexandre Leclerc on upright bass, Evan Friesen on drums – this group is unstoppable as they play music in a similar vein as Higgins, it is a fitting alliance both onstage and in the studio.

Petunia & The Vipers: Americana/Roots/Country

It’s hard to sum up Petunia and The Vipers in a neat little, digestible package. A complete mix of Roots based modern rocking and balladeering, yodeling included, captures the essence of 30’s, 40’s, 50’s jazz, jugband, punk rock, AmericanaFrench-Mexican, Cajun, and Alternative. One thing is for certain though . . . with rockabilly, country swing, sweet melodic ballads, and just the right amount of darkness and grit, they’ll leave you wanting to start back at the beginning as soon as their set is finished.

Andrew Neville: Country

In a nut shell – Pure country music genius. Andrew is a singer, songwriter, and larger than life while on stage. I mean, you can’t help but love the guy. The only thing keeping him from being one of the greats in Canadian Country music is that I think he can’t stand the idea of leaving Manitoba for more than a few days at a time. Correction – The only reason he might not be known as one of the greats is that he can’t stand the idea of leaving Manitoba for more than a few days at a time. When checking out your schedule, remember, your only poor choice will be if you choose to miss his show.

Blake Unruly: Folk’n’Roll

Blake Unruly is an introspective and interactive performer who makes your heart thump and your boots jump. His coast to coast living, breathing in the Canadian experience, has resulted in a blend of music that catches the ear and the soul, surmising life’s wows and woes. His songs jump to the truth of the matter and then slip on the ice. A man from many places. His music boils down his random life experiences into an ear-catching sound

Brooklyn Doran: Indie Folk

Brooklyn Doran is an indie folk songstress, originally from Kenora, Ontario who is now based in Toronto. The singer-songwriter’s music presents a unique and harmonious blend of traditional folk and contemporary pop. Her live show weaves song and storytelling, from humorous anecdotes to emotional ballads, to delightfully folk-infused love songs. Band Bio: Brooklyn Doran’s music has been featured extensively on CBC and radio throughout Canada, featured in music publications worldwide. Brooklyn’s debut full-length album “These Paper Wings” was recorded at Catherine North Studios and was released worldwide in September 2016. The album is a follow-up to her first offering, a 5-song EP titled “There’s A Light On” released in 2014.

Double the Trouble: Bluegrass/Alt. Country

Double the Trouble are the perfect reflection of what is to be of this land. Being fluent in both official languages, these identical 12-year-old French-Metis and Cree twins along with their dad on guitar perform Traditional Metis fiddle tunes mixed with contemporary music. For the past 7 years, Luc and Aidan Wrigley’s unique style and sound have been leaving their audiences amazed and wanting more. At the age of 11, they recorded a full album and toured the Prairie Provinces from Winnipeg to Jasper. Most recently they have performed at Club Regent Event Centre for the 8th annual First Nations Caring Society and traveled to North Dakota to perform at the Icelandic State Park as part of a yearlong celebration of the Metis. Double the Trouble will be performing in February at the Festival du Voyageur then flying to Calgary in March to perform at the Maple Sugar Festival. A second album is in the works as well as the filming of a short documentary which will highlight the recording of their first original song “Juniper Woods”.

The Janzen Boys

Father-and-sons trio, The Janzen Boys, got their start busking as a rootsy, harmony-singing family playing in various places around Winnipeg, Manitoba. It wasn’t long, however, before there was a demand for more. After racking up almost 4000 views on YouTube in the University of Winnipeg’s Uniter Fiver contest for new bands, they were chosen for a finalists showcase at Winnipeg’s iconic West End Cultural Centre. From there the ball started to roll and soon their schedule was filled with house concerts and festival gigs all over the province.

JD and the Sunshine Band: Country/Roots

A clash of styles, from “tear in my beer”-style ballads, to “laugh out loud, Stompin’ Tom-style romps”, and tinges of cosmic Americana, the band makes country music from a distinctly Winnipeg perspective. The band bases many of their songs off of the stories, slang, and humour on the streets of Winnipeg, and shines a light on their matter of fact purity, using simple chords, and backed by an unlikely chorus of percussion players and merrymakers.

Kayla Luky: Country

Singer-songwriter Kayla Luky lives in Grandview, Manitoba, a small farming community nestled between the Riding and Duck Mountains. This unique setting gives her country sound absolute authenticity. Luky has toured Western and Eastern Canada a few times over, played shows all over Manitoba and has showcased at many conferences and festivals. After much positive response to Kayla Luky’s last offering The Time It Takes (2011) she is releasing her next album Back to Dirt in January 2017 featuring twelve new tracks soaked in alcohol, dirt, and sorrow, honouring the roots of real country music.

The Middle Coast: Rock/Pop/Roots

There’s something to be said for a band that can simultaneously elicit a sense of nostalgia and new discovery; that perfectly balances an appreciation of the past with a youthful enthusiasm and mainstream ambitions. Meet The Middle Coast, the Manitoba trio whose self-described ‘70s-style yacht rock will be the new soundtrack to your dockside daydreams and breezy evening drives. the boys are gearing up for the release of their debut record; a 9 song album packed with single-worthy songs produced by Canadian indie music legends Howard Redekopp.

Midnight Vesta: Folk Rock

Midnight Vesta hails from Toronto Ontario. Since their 2015 debut EP – The Sleight Of Hand, they have progressed from a banjo-driven folk band to a guitar-laden – Canadiana infused, Indie band. They blend elements of their influences to craft a sound that is fresh yet familiar. Playing successful showcases in CMW and NXNE they continue to expand their audience through their live performance. They are poised to release their first full-length LP in early 2017.

Patrick Alexandre: Blues

Backed by two of Winnipeg’s finest, Dwayne Dueck (guitar) and Jeffrey Laird (drums), Patrick swings seamlessly from guitar to piano, to harmonica, and of course, back to his native instrument, the upright bass. Powered by his unending energy and roaring voice, his animated live performance continues to entertain audiences across Canada, maintaining his reputation as one of the hardest working, and intense performers around. It is guaranteed that every last bit of him is given in performance.

Paul McIntosh: Country

A singer-songwriter with deep roots in Lac du Bonnet, Manitoba Paul’s music reflects his varied passions. As a young man, Paul traveled with a backpack for the better part of a year, played a lot of hockey, and earned a degree in Agriculture before he returned for good, to take over the family farm. From agriculture to politics; his stories bring to life the beauty, romance, and tribulations of life on the family farm. With his eye to the personal and to the “heart” of a story, his music will draw you in and make you part of his world.

Railroad Tye:

Fire & Water just wouldn’t be the same without an appearance for Railroad Tye. From his intimate jam sessions to his larger than life presence on the stage, Tye weaves a series of intricate stories into his songs that leave many yearning for the freedom to pack up and travel the world without worry.

Sebation Owl

From their Brandon, Manitoba beginnings in 2010, Sebastian Owl have strived for harmony-rich melodies, catchy choruses, meaningful lyrics and a no-holds-barred energetic live show. The quintet has appeared on the stages of Brandon Folk Festival, Music and Art Festival, Harvest Sun Music Festival, Winnipeg Folk Festival, Ness Creek Music Festival, Rock in the Fields Minnedosa and multiple others across the Prairies. With five studio albums under their belts, these small-town boys have big-time dreams and a lengthy catalogue of song & sound that’s sure to get stuck in your head and leave you smiling.

Stonypoint Power Trio: Hardcore Bluegrass

Made up of Rob Wrigley (banjo,mando), Tim ‘Catface’ Longbottom (doghouse bass) and Ken Kansas (guitar and mando), Stonypoint Power Trio (SPPT) play mostly original tunes scribed by each member. All three players have a long history of playing live music in many genres in and around Manitoba. Influenced by the Grateful Dead, Merle Haggard, Bad Livers, Steve Earle, Ralph Stanley, The Gourds, Emmylou Harris, Crazy Horse and the Tragically Hip to name just a few, SPPT likes to tell stories amidst chaos and serenity. The last time SPPT played the Fire and Water Festival, a person from the crowd approached afterward and said “That was fantastic, it was like, like, heavy metal bluegrass”, to which we replied, “Can we buy you a beer”. SPPT is currently working on a cd of all original tunes and hope to have something to share in that regard by the fall.

Sweet Darling and Sorrow: Bluegrass/Country

There is no denying that an artist is a reflection of their environment, and the harsh beauty of rural Manitoba is at the heart of Jess Reimer’s work. Be it snowed-in, wool-wearing imagery or dirt under your nails, ‘sweating through the yellow silk’, the extremes and heartiness of Manitoba are in Jess’ songs. Listening to Reimer it is clear she is unwaveringly connected to the soul of traditional North American music. an acoustic duo whose songs are heavy on the harmonies and bluegrass instrumentation as well as lyrically poetic and at the same time, traditional.

Tanner Sitar: Lions Talent Show Winner

I am a singer/songwriter and I have been playing guitar for 5 years. When I picked up a guitar for the first time, at the age of 8, I knew that’s what I wanted to do. So I did it. I started to write songs about heartbreaks, good times, and even getting into trouble. My dad is a really talented guitarist and he’s a huge part of why I became a performer. I started out learning through my school music program and then ventured into learning on my own through YouTube videos. I have also taken voice and guitar lessons through Vivo Harmonics. I can now express myself through music and that’s such an amazing feeling. I am hoping to become recognized in the music industry and that’s why I am thanking Fire and Water festival for this amazing opportunity.

Two Socks: Folk Rock

These rambunctious folk-rockers from Winnipeg, Canada known as Two Socks began as a duo with singer/songwriter Skylar Bouchard and guitarist Daniel Simoes to showcase Bouchard’s songs. They grew to a four-piece band with the addition of longtime friends, Gerald Bulera and Alex Mackinnon, on drums and bass, and are now a full-blown folk-rock party band. Whether it’s a crowded beach-side in Thailand or packed pub in Winnipeg, Two Socks gets the folks up and dancing every time. While their laid-back groove swings like Alabama Shakes, Bahamas, or The Avett Brothers, it’s the bands upbeat personality that connects with the fans. Currently producing their debut album. Expect big things from our boys in 2017!

The Wolfe: Alternative Rock

With a unique blend of music that appeals to a variety of listeners, The Wolfe is not only a hit for fans of rock and alternative, but also avid listeners of indie, folk, and pop. The Wolfe touches on relatable subjects that are expressed through their risk-taking, sometimes cheeky, yet stuck-in-your-head catchy tunes. Soft yet powerful vocals are contrasted with an underlay of delayed guitar, gritty bass lines, and engaging beats. Having often been compared to Metric and The Cranberries, The Wolfe has also been called “A female U2 that’s able to get heavier and tackle more emotional subjects.”

Wreckin’ So: Rock Metal Blues Country Homemade

Manitoba-based Rock/Metal/Blues band breaking a new trail in music like never seen before. “A must see” with homemade instruments and an infectious sound filled with soul and feeling – from the spine-chilling lead riffs and solos to the non-stop beat that you have to move along to. Wreckin’ So has had the honor to explode on the Manitoba music scene, playing some huge music festivals and opening for some greats along the way. Always leaving crowds wanting more with a cool instrument or two and some catchy originals that make you feel as though you have loved our music all along.